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N0. 61!,586. Patented Sept. 27, I898. M. B. ATKINSON. STREET SWEEPEB.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Shaet L (No Model.)

INVENTOR WITN ESSES:

No. 6l|,586. Patented Sept. 27, I898. M. B. ATKINSON.

STREET SWEEPER.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1897.)

Inventor.

2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

M In; 6

wAsamu'rou, n, c.

, PNOTO-LITHO I I I I I 4 4 I I Witnesses F fi (No Model.)

llwirnn STATES PATENT @rricn.

MAHLON B. ATKINSON, OF \VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO LAWRENCE S. NICOLAI, CHARLES D. NICOLAI, AND JOIIN'FITZMORRIS, OF SAME PLACE.

STREET-SWEEPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,586, dated September 27, 1898. Application filed November 22, 1897. Serial No. 659,500. (No model.)

To aZl whom it may concern:

1 Be it known that I, MAHLON B. ATKINSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand Street-Sweepers; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

I 5 Figure 1 of the drawings is aplan View of my improved sweeper. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with one of thehandles partly broken away. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the dirt-receptacle and shoe. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of theratchet-and-pawl devices; and Fig. 5 is a detail View, partly broken away and partly in section, showing one of the clutch-sleeves and the adjacent parts. j

This invention has relation to a hand street-sweeper; and it is designed to provide a thoroughly-efiicient and practical machine of this character.

It is also designed to provide a sweeper 0 having means of improved character whereby the dirt collected, by the brush is taken up asfast as it is collected and is carried by the machine and discharged in piles as often as may be desired.

5 The invention is also designed to provide means of simple character whereby thebrush may be readily adjusted to compensate for its wear; also, to provide a scraping attachment arranged to operate in advance of the 0 brush with means whereby it may be readily thrown into and out of operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear. With these objects in View the invention 5 consistsin the. novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out .in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the supporting and 5 0 drive wheels,which are loosely journaled upon an axle B. Secured to the hub of each of the said wheels is a plate or disk C, which carries a number of gravity-pawls c.

, D D are clutch-sleeves which are formed with squared openings therethrough and are fitted upon the squared portion 11 of the axle adjacent to and between the wheels. The sleeves are formed with ratchet-teeth d, which are engaged by the pawls 0 when the machine is moved ina forward direction, the pawls, however, riding idly over said teeth when the machine is moved backward.

E designates the handle orpush bars, whose lower forward portions are pivoted upon cylindric portions all of the sleeves D and D.

F designates the brush, which is carried by ashaft G. This shaft is j ournaled in the lower end portions of rearwardly and-downwardly extending arms H, whose upper forward end portions'pivotallyengage the inner end por- 7o tionsof the respective sleeves D D.

H designates adjusting-bars, one at each side of the machine, which connect the arms H with the handle-bars. The upper end portions of these adj usting-bars are formed with a number ofbolt-holes h at difierent points, and the handle-bars are also provided with a number of bolt-holes h, whereby there is permitted a very considerable range of adj ustment for the said bars 11, and consequently for the brush, the position of which may be adjusted from time to time to compensate for wear until it becomes'worn out. The tufts f of the brush are preferably set in parallel courses not too closely together, and at each end portion of the brush the tufts are set in oblique lines, as shown in Fig. 1, in

order to more effectually gather in'the dirt by carrying it somewhat toward the center.

I is a pinion which is secured upon one end portion of the brush-shaft and which is driven by a gear-wheel J, fixed to the clutch-sleeve D.

K designates a dirt receptacle or carrier, which is of quadrantal form in cross-section with its straight open side facing the brush. 5 This receptacle is of sheet metal, preferably, and is supported in front of the brush by means of lateral arms or bars 70, one at each end. These arms or bars extend rearwardly over the axle and are pivotally connected to I00 the handle-bars by a bolt of bolts 70. In order that the receptacle may be more readily detached from the machine when desired, I prefer to form the bolt seat or seats in the upper edges of these arms or bars and in detachable or pivoted caps or straps 7.2", which fit over the upper portions of the bolts to secure them in place.

The rear bottom portion of the receptacle K runs several inches above the ground or pavement or sufficiently high to clear all ordinary projections or obstructions, as indicated in Fig. 1, and pivoted therein is a gravity-shoe L, open at front and back. This shoe drags upon the ground or pavement and readily yields to any ordinary obstruction or irregularity of surface which may be encountered without causing movement of the receptacle itself, as would be the case if the receptacle or an integral lip or flange thereof formed the contact with the ground. This shoe or apron not only forms a bridge between the brush and the receptacle whereby the dirt is carried back into the latter, but it also enables the receptacle to be placed at a greater distance from the brush, so that when raised into dumping position it will discharge its load entirely in front and clear of the brush. It also forms a du mping-lip for said receptacle, and its discharge edge when in this position is but a short distance from the ground or pavement, whereby there is less opportunity for the dirt to scatter and for dust to rise from the discharges.

L isa pivoted cover for the receptacle.

M is a rod which is loosely connected to the upper forward portion of the receptacle and which extends rearwardly over the handle-bars to a point within convenient reach of the operator, who by a slight pull thereon can raise the receptacle on the pivots into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and thereby cause it to discharge or dump. Should the dirt therein have a tendency to stick, the rod may be pushed back and forth to cause a suflicient agitation to overcome such tendency.

M designates a transverse scraper-blade which works underneath the receptacle K in advance of the brush and which is carried by two levers N, one at each side of the machine. These levers are pivoted at n to the arms H below the axle B and extend upwardly and along the handle-bars, being bent inwardly at their upper portions and joined to each other, as indicated at O, and thence upwardly between the handle-bars to a point within convenient reach of the operator. P is a pawl device carried by the upper connected end portions of the said lever and arranged to engage the teeth of a rack-post R. S is a spring which is arranged to act upon the said levers to hold the scraper in yielding contact with the ground or pavement when in use. This scraper is brought into play only when it is necessary to loosen dirt and refuse which is closely adherent to the pavement, so that the brush can take it up. At other times it is held out of operation by the pawl device P.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood. Being pushed forward the brush is driven by means of the gear connection I and J and the pawl-and-ratchet connections, as described. The brush sweeps the dirt through the shoe L into the receptacle K, where it remains until the said receptacle becomes sufficiently full to be dumped. By exerting more or less pressure upon the handle-bars the operator may control the brush and cause it to sweep as hard or as lightly as may be necessary. 7 hen the machine is drawn backward, the wheels A turn loosely upon the axle and the brush does not operate.

If it is desired to use the machine as a sweeper only, the receptacle K can be readily removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a street-sweeper,the combination with the axle, the driving and supporting wheels loosely mounted thereon, and the pawl-andratchet connections between the said wheels and the axle, of the brush-supporting arms loosely hung on the axle and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, the brush journaled therein, the gear connection between the axle and the brush-shaft the handle-bars pivoted on the axle, and connections between the handle-bars and the brush-supporting arms, substantially as specified.

2. In a street-sweeper,the combination with the axle, the supporting and drive wheels, the handle-bars, and the brush, of the transverse scraper-blade in advance of the brush, and the pivoted levers which carry the said blade, substantially as specified.

3. In a street-sweeper,tl1e combination with the axle, the supporting and drive wheels, the handle-bars, and the brush, of the transverse scraper-blade in advance of the brush, the pivoted levers which carry the said blade, said levers extending upwardly and back along the handle-bars and united at their upperend portions, and a spring arranged to exert a downward pressure upon said blade, substantially as specified.

4:. The herein-described street-sweeper, consisting essentially of an axle, supporting and drive wheels loosely mounted thereon and carrying pawls, sleeves fixed to the axle and having pawl-teeth which are engaged by said pawls upon the forward movement of the machine, the handle-bars pivotally engaging the said sleeves, the rearwardly and downwardly extending brush-supporting arms, the brush-shaft journaled therein, the brush, the adjustable bars'which connect the handlebars to the brush-supporting arms, the gear connection between the axle and the brushshaft, the dirt-receptacle pivotally supported in front of the brush, and the shoe pivoted in the lower rear portion of the receptacle, substantially as specified.

5. The herein-described street-sweeper, consisting essentially of an axle, supporting and drive wheels loosely mounted thereon and carrying pawls, sleeves fixed to the axle and having pawl-teeth which are engaged by said pawls upon the forward movement of the machine, the handle-bars pivotally engaging the said sleeves-the r'earwardly and downwardly extending brush-supporting arms, the brush-shaft journaled therein, the brush, the adjustable bars which connect the handlebars to the brush-supporting arms, the gear 

